Caleb Tullius

Director

As a member, staff member, and band director, he has steered marching bands to the UIL State Marching Band contest on multiple occasions. Under his leadership, several of his brass chamber ensembles were invited to perform multiple times at the International Trumpet Guild Conference, the International Tuba Euphonium Association Conference, and the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition.

Caleb has happily served on the brass staff at Colts Drum and Bugle Corps since 2023. He also sits on the design team for several of SCMA’s ensembles along with local high school marching bands.

As the Chief Executive Officer of Sun City Musical Arts, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting the community’s music and performing arts, he has made significant contributions to the music and performing arts community. He has established or restablished and directed Sun City Independent, Ethereal Winds Independent, Allure Independent, and Arsenal Drum and Bugle Corps, all of which have played a crucial role in the lives of young performers. He helped lead Sun City Independent Percussion to its status as a WGI Open Class Semifinalist. As the director of Ethereal Winds Independent, they achieved the Independent A Bronze Medal at the 2023 WGI Winds World Championships and were the 2024 Independent A Champions, a first in El Paso history.

In his personal time, Caleb enjoys fishing with his fiancée and spoiling their furry companions.

Caleb is committed to the growth of the music and performing arts in El Paso and the greater Southwest.

Sergio Amador

Assistant Director

Mr. Amador is a marching advocate with several years of experience working on staff with the bands in the local circuit.

He currently works as an assistant band director at Austin High School. In 2021, he marched Drum Corps International with the Troopers Drum and Bugle Corps from Casper, Wyoming.

Michael J. Miller

Music Designer

Michael is currently the brass arranger for the Colts Drum & Bugle Corps from Dubuque, IA. He also designs competitive pageantry shows for indoor and outdoor ensembles across the United States through a partnership with Synced Up Designs. His music for college band has been performed at the Superbowl as well as at numerous B.C.S. bowl games.

In addition to his design engagements, Michael serves as an adjudicator for competitive pageantry organizations at the state and national level including Music For All’s Bands of America Championships.

Before dedicating himself to composition full time, Michael was a public-school band director. Under his leadership, the Joe E. Newsome High School band (Lithia, FL) earned the Florida Bandmasters Association’s Otto Kraushaar award, was named B.O.A. Regional Grand Champions, qualified for W.G.I. World Championships Finals, and performed in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Michael was awarded the School Board of Hernando County’s Hernando H.E.R.O.E.S. Award, and the Superintendent’s Excellence Award. Additionally, he received the National Band Association’s Certificate of Merit for outstanding contributions to marching bands.

Michael holds a Master of Music degree in Instrumental Conducting from the University of Florida and a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Syracuse University. He is a member of the Music Educators National Conference, the National Band Association, the World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles, and is a brother of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.

Michael is happily married to his wife and best friend, Vivian. When he isn’t writing music or working with a musical ensemble, he enjoys traveling the world and experiencing the food culture wherever he goes.

Jonathan Probst

Drill Designer

Jonathan Probst is also an accomplished professional in the field of music education, currently serving as the Assistant Director of Instrumental Music at Chino Hills HS. With a Masters Degree in Education emphasizing Critical Thinking, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education, Jonathan blends both his knowledge of music and visual arts to create a well-rounded and cohesive learning experience for his students. Jonathan has worked with both the Pacific Crest and Phantom Regiment Drum & Bugle Corps. Jonathan’s commitment to fostering musical/visual excellence and cultivating critical thinking skills has earned him a reputation as a dedicated and influential figure in music education.

Patrick Ramirez

Choreographer

He has served the local region with visual design by choreographing and consulting shows for several high school programs locally as a visual technician for 5 years.

Chad Miller

Brass Consultant

Chad graduated from Indiana University South Bend with a Bachelor of Arts in music composition. He began his drum corps career as a performing member with the Phantom Regiment Drum & Bugle Corps in 1997 – 1999 and served on brass educational staffs at The Glassmen Drum & Bugle Corps and Boston Crusaders Drum & Bugle Corps, as well as the 2001 Division 3 World Champion Blue Stars Drum & Bugle Corps, where he served as the brass caption head and arranger. Chad is currently the brass caption head for the Colts Drum & Bugle corps and has been there since 2017. Chad has composed and arranged for many genres of music and continues performing on a regular basis with multiple groups in the Northern Indiana and Southern Michigan areas. His experience performing in diverse settings from symphonic bands to New Orleans Funk and Blues bands continues to inform his approach to brass playing and music in general. Chad is passionate about teaching and mentoring musicians of all levels, from beginners to professionals. He takes a hands-on approach to fostering success in each individual while also emphasizing technical proficiency and performance quality.

Carli Castillon

Brass Consultant

Gabriela Tellez

Brass Specialist

Gabby has been involved in teaching with the local marching arts in El Paso since 2016 and has taught at various schools, including Bowie High School, Coronado High School, Riverside High School and currently Bel Air High School. Her Drum Corps experience includes performing with Crossmen Drum & Bugle Corps from San Antonio, TX in the summer of 2016. She is currently on brass staff with Arsenal Drum and Bugle Corps. Gabby has experience working with all levels of music from Elementary to High School. She is currently one of the Assistant Directors at Bel Air High School in El Paso, TX.

Joseph Barrios

Brass Specialist

Joseph has performed in the UTEP Wind Symphony, UTEP Horn Choir, UTEP Marching Band and Pep Band, UTEP Symphony Orchestra, UTEP Symphonic Band, UTEP Ceremonial Brass, and UTEP Concert Band. He has also performed at the 2017 Midwest Convention, the 2018 Texas Music Educators Association Convention, and the 2019 American Bandmasters Association Convention.

Outside of UTEP, Joseph has played with the Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company (2016-2018), and the Paso Del Norte Symphony Orchestra (2017-2020) and is currently playing with the El Paso Ballet Company (2022-present).

Joseph has also worked with several El Paso schools during marching and concert seasons for several years: Andress HS (2014-2016), H. E. Charles MS (2019), Burges HS (2019-2022), Ross MS (2019-2020), Magoffin MS (2019-2020), and is currently working at Austin High School (2023-present).

Alyssa Mendoza

Visual Specialist

While in her collegiate studies, Jacqueline was an active member of the UTEP Bands department performing with the Marching Miners, Basketball Pep Band, Symphonic Band and Concert Band. There she took part in various leadership roles such as conductor for the Basketball Pep Band and section leader turned drum major for the Marching Miners. Additional duties included her officer position as the Vice President of Service with Kappa Kappa Psi, social media co-manager for the Marching Miners and student assistant for Dr. Andrew Hunter, Associate Director of UTEP Bands.

Jacqueline is a supporter of the arts and continues to assist with Eastlake High School’s Falcon Band as a Visual Technician.

Jacqueline has given much of her free time to photography wether it is freelance work or shooting for UTEP Bands, Sun City Indoor and Ethereal Winds.

You can check out her photography work on her Instagram page: @jamshoots_

Matthew Herandez

Visual Specialist

Other notable works include being an assistant marching clinician/marching tech in the West Texas area, marching Horizon DBC in 2016, and marching with the Blue Knights in 2019.

Matthew loves to spread the love of music with his students and hopes to continue to actively participate as an educator in the Marching arts.

Pablo Estrada

Visual Specialist

Outside of his studies at the university, Pablo has been a part of a few programs across El Paso working with Riverside High School from 2018- 2019, Del Valle High School in 2021, as well as the Irvin High School Band 2021 season. In all of these programs he’s been part of the visual and marching staff, as well as the music staff.